Call for papers: 15th International Conference of Architectural Museums

In a period of economic crisis, of urban and social mutations, is indefinite expansion still the expected future for architectural institutions? Are we engaged in a period of changes, concerning the organization of our institutions, their budgets or their acquisition policies? Can this foster, for example, the merging of cultural institutions of various scope (on architecture, design, visual arts, etc.), or lead to a greater focus on ‘star’ people or material? What new opportunities stand in front of us?

Three sessions shall explore these issues: in managing architectural centers (session 1, Mergers and Partnerships), in dealing with prominent figures (session 2, The Icon and the Star), and in building up an archival collection (session 3, Challenges and Opportunities). Two sessions shall deal with exhibitions, raising issues never addressed so far in icam conferences: the architecture book as exhibit (session 4) and the use of text in exhibitions (session 5).

Proposals are to be submitted before Friday, July 17, 2009. Abstracts in English should not exceed 250 words and must be accompanied by a short CV.